'Memorandum on the Drafts of Despatches regarding the Affairs of Muscat and Zanzibar' [‎35v] (20/24)

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than three weeks from the date of his getting your
message.
“ We have no further news. I have seen Hajee
Ahmed, the minister of the late Sultan, he confirms
my previous impressions, that all will probably re
main quiet for a time, but that first one then another
outlying possession will set up for itself or drop off
to Persia or the Wahabees, and that we must be
prepared to take vigorous measures to repress any
attempt to revive piracy.”
In reply to my suggestion that Colonel Pelly
should be invited to visit Simla, to confer with the
Viceroy, Sir John Lawrence, in a letter dated
Simla, April 21st 1860, observed:—
“ I could not ask Colonel Pelly to come up to
Simla, more particularly at such an inclement
season of the year. If necessary, he might come
across on my return to Calcutta. I do not, how
ever, desire to arrange myself for the policy to be
adopted in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . I would prefer that
all that was done was carried on either by or through
your Government. What that policy is to be will
mainly depend, no doubt, on the views of the autho
rities at home. If I have any influence in that policy,
I should advise that we interfere as little as may be
practicable in the affairs of the Arab tribes on the
sea board, and, of course, still less with those of the
tribes in the interior of the country. I would be
slow to take up the cause of natives of India or their
descendants, who call themselves British subjects,
for injuries received in the country, and where I did
so, I would confine that interference, as a rule, to
remonstrance. Unless we act in this way, we shall
make enemies and not friends of these Arab tribes,
and our interference will be misrepresented, mis
understood, and when opportunity offers will be
resented also.
“ 1 would confine our labours, as a rule, to the
suppression of piracy on the high seas. This seems
to me quite as much as we can undertake with any
' advantage.”
To these two letters I replied, in a letter dated
Bombay, April 29th, 1866, which refers to the
official Despatches received at the same time :—
“ I am sorry you cannot ask Colonel Pelly to
Simla, for a visit to Calcutta next season will
hardly fulfil my object of enabling him to have the
advantage of explaining his own views, and per
sonally learning what are your wishes and orders.
‘ The fact is, that the official Despatches on
Muscat and Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. affairs are so worded that
it is very difficult to make out what it is desired we
should do.
“We are not to be friends with Syud Salim, but
he is not to be affronted, nor is anything to be done
which will prevent our being friends, if he estab-